He said: I asked Abu Ja`far عليه السلام about monotheism (tawhid), so I said: Can I think of Him as a thing? So he said: Yes, [but a thing that is] not understood and not defined within limits. Whatever subject dwells out of your imagination regarding Him is different from Him. No thing resembles Him, and imaginations cannot attain Him. How could imaginations attain Him when He is different from what can be understood, and different from what is perceived in one’s thoughts?! He can be thought of a thing that is not understood and not defined. (al-Kafi, Volume 1, hadith 217)

A number of our companions from Ahmad b. Muhammad b. Khalid al-Barqi from his father from an-Nadr b. Suwayd from Yahya al-Halabi from Ibn Muskan from Zurara b. A`yan.

He said: I heard Abu `Abdillah عليه السلامsaying: Verily Allah is devoid of His creation and His creation is devoid of Him. And all upon which the name of “thing” befalls – apart from Allah – it is created. And Allah is the creator of everything. Blessed be the one who nothing is like unto Him. And He is the All-hearing, the All-seeing. (al-Kafi, Volume 1, hadith 220)

`Ali b. Ibrahim from his father from ibn Abi `Umayr from `Ali b. `Atiyya from Khaythama from Abu Ja`far عليه السلام.

He said: Verily, Allah is distinct from His creation, and His creation is different from Him. All that can be identified by the name “thing” apart from Allah تعالى is a creation; and Allah created all things. (al-Kafi, Volume 1, hadith 221)